Toolivaro

Free Gravel Calculator

Estimate gravel volume in cubic yards or meters, weight in tons, and cost for a driveway, path, or base layer.

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Units

Area length.

Area width.

Compacted depth (3 inches = 0.25 ft, 8 cm = 0.08 m).

Spread losses plus compaction for driveways.

Price per cubic yard (imperial) or cubic meter (metric).

How is the result calculated?

Driveway topping: 20 ft × 10 ft, 3 inches deep

A driveway is 20 by 10 feet and you want a 3-inch (0.25 ft) gravel layer: 20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet, which is 1.85 cubic yards. With a 10% allowance for compaction and spreading, the order is about 2.04 cubic yards. At a bulk density of 1.4 tons per yard that is roughly 2.9 tons. At $40 per cubic yard the material is about $81.50 — delivery fees often exceed the material cost for small orders.

Input Value
length 20
width 10
depth 0.25
wastePercent 10
pricePerUnit 40
Result 1.85 yd³ · 2.04 yd³ with waste · ≈ 2.9 tons · ≈ $81.50

What is the formula and its assumptions?

Volume

volume = length × width × depth

Symbol Meaning
length area length
width area width
depth compacted depth of the gravel layer

Weight estimate

weight ≈ volume × (1 + waste%) × density

Symbol Meaning
density ≈ 1.4 tons per cubic yard (≈ 1.68 t/m³) for typical gravel
waste% spread losses and compaction allowance

What are the most common mistakes?

  • Ordering by area instead of volume — a 3-inch layer of gravel is not measured in square feet.
  • Ignoring compaction: a driveway ordered at exact geometric volume ends up thin after settling.
  • Mixing units — cubic yards in, tons out, and a price per cubic meter on top produces errors of 27×.

What are the assumptions and limitations?

  • Density varies by material and moisture; the weight is an estimate to confirm with the supplier.
  • Assumes a rectangular area with uniform depth; slopes and irregular shapes need a different method.
  • Cost excludes delivery fees, which can dominate small orders.

Where do the numbers come from?

Last reviewed August 4, 2026 · Version 1.0.0 · Toolivaro does not guarantee external content.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does gravel settle?

Compacted gravel settles about 5–10% under traffic. If you want a final compacted depth of 3 inches, order 10% more than the geometric volume — the calculator’s waste field doubles as that allowance for driveways.

Is the weight estimate accurate enough to order by?

Density varies by material — pea gravel and crushed limestone differ, and moisture adds weight. Use the estimate to compare suppliers and size the delivery, then confirm the exact tonnage with the supplier based on their material.

How deep should the gravel layer be?

Walkways work at 2 inches, driveways typically need 3–4 inches of compacted gravel over a prepared base, and paver bases are usually 4–6 inches. Depth is the input that moves the estimate most — measure before ordering.

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